Day 22
Distance travelled: 115.4 miles
Time in saddle: 9hrs. 9 mins
Overall distance travelled: 1972 miles

I felt really positive this morning when I woke up. I had a chat to myself last night and told myself not to be such a wuss. I’m having the experience of a lifetime and meeting some really great people. I'm returning home to the best place and the best people in the world.....what’s the matter with me.
The first thirty miles went really fast. I don’t really like eating first thing in a morning so after the first couple of hours I was ready for something to eat. I eventually stopped in a place called Seneca. It was a McDonalds of all places, the breakfast meal wasn’t that nice but the place was crowded and I met some really nice people, who all wanted to know where I was cycling to and where from. It was a bit like ‘red neck city’ but they seemed nice enough. There seemed to be a lot of very large people in the place, perhaps it’s the meals they serve. There was a young lad of about twelve who was an exact replica of his dad, dressed the same and everything. They even had matching ties. He was very nice and asked me what I was doing in a very business like manner. It was like chatting to my bank manager…..weird.
I made a complete cock up. I left McDonalds and I cycled down what I thought was the correct road, I cycled merrily away for five miles. It dawned on me that the sun was in the wrong place. The good thing about cycling in the same direction for the last two thousand miles is that you get to know where the sun is at certain times of the day. I was cycling North instead of East. I had come out of McDonalds and taken the only turning in about fifty miles….typical of me. I turned around and went back to where I started, this time taking the route 36 East. It added another ten miles to my daily distance, but not much use in fretting about it…anyway the exercise will do me good. I even got chased by two dogs…..they were only small, bless em. I even dropped a couple of gears so they had a chance. I actually laughed as they chased me…this seemed to upset them even more.
As I climbed another hill my signal for my mobile finally came back…out of the wilderness. I received loads of messages from friends and family, cheers for that. I rang Daniel and Thomas, my sons and Uncle Ken and Auntie Hilda. It was great to hear their voices. Auntie Hilda has promised me as many cups of tea as I can handle when I get home…it’s a deal. Our Kevin also rang me as I arrived at the motel. It’s great to hear from him. I can’t wait to bore him with my tales.
I don’t know if you’ve noticed but my video camera has actually zoomed out a couple of times, without me being behind the camera. It’s while I am riding past or sat down on the grass….weird. I can assure you I am alone..... Freaky. If there is someone helping me from the other side….can you get the framing right please….come on if you’re going to do it, do it properly.
There is some lovely countryside, as the Missouri border gets nearer. It is very green and there are large patches of wooded areas….very English.
I stopped for a break in a place called Troy, of the wooden horse variety. As I was having a drink and something to eat on the pavement next to a petrol station a black guy called Stephen came talking to me. He was driving home with his family; I think it was to Detroit. He was a real character. We chatted for a while and all the time he was dancing about, he couldn’t keep still. We shook hands at least four times but slappy ones, like high fives but side on and low down if you know what I mean? He was very nice. He then asked me if I knew the Lord Jesus Christ…not personally but I knew of him. Then he kept mentioning Eamonn, Eamonn, Eamonn….or it could have been Amen, Amen, Amen? I’m not sure.
I eventually crossed the border into Missouri and looked for a motel. I had to ride about another four miles before I found one…all up hill. It’s very cheap, in more ways than one. There is no Internet and the TV has just conked out. I am too tired to complain. I’ll just get my blog done, edit the film and get to bed. There is a cafe with Internet access across the road. I might see if I can borrow their connection. I can only ask. If not you will get it to morrow.
I was only jesting about the Jesus Christ thing…..course I know him and to be honest I pray to him every night. I ask only one thing, for my loved ones to be happy and safe.
On that I will leave you, so be happy and be safe.